Storage Medium with Data Memory and Charging Station

ABSTRACT

There is provided a storage medium for use as a source of energy for vehicles. An exemplary storage medium comprises a data memory that stores information about the charge status of the storage medium. The exemplary storage medium also comprises a SIM card.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371, this application is the United StatesNational Stage Application of International Patent Application No.PCT/EP2009/009057, filed on Dec. 17, 2009, the contents of which areincorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein,which claims priority to German (DE) Patent Application No. 10 2008 063438.7, filed Dec. 31, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

Numerous sources of energy are known for supplying power to vehicles.

An automatic storage-monitoring and battery-exchange system forelectrically powered transport vehicles is known from European patentapplication EP 0 476 405 A1.

The loading station disclosed there comprises a battery-exchange stationwith loading devices for multiples batteries. Here, each of thebatteries has an identification code that identifies it. Moreover, areading device for identifying the batteries is located on the transportvehicle as well as in the exchange station.

SUMMARY

The subject innovation relates to a storage medium as well as to amethod for its operation.

The storage medium according to the subject innovation makes it possibleto supply a plurality of vehicles as flexibly and reliably as possiblewith storage media that have a desired charge level for desiredoperating states of vehicles.

In particular, according to the subject innovation, it is desirable toquickly and reliably provide vehicles with storage media that are asfully charged as possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above discussed embodiments are only examples. Skilled people mayconsider modifications of said embodiments within the scope of thesubject innovation. More details of the subject innovation are shown inthe following figures and the detailed description of exemplaryembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a storage medium according to the subjectinnovation; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a loading station according to the subjectinnovation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 of a storage medium 102 according to thesubject innovation. The diagram 100 comprises a storage medium 102. Thestorage medium 102 includes a data memory 104. The storage medium 102also includes a SIM card 106.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 of a loading station 202 according to thesubject innovation. The loading station 202 includes a controller 204that controls a loading and/or unloading process. The loading station202 also includes an identifying device 206 that identifies a storagemedium.

As explained herein, the subject innovation relates to a storage medium,especially for use as a source of energy for vehicles, said storagemedium comprising a data memory that stores information about the chargestatus of the storage medium.

In one example embodiment, the storage medium is characterized in thatthe data memory can store information about at least one location.

An embodiment of the storage medium provides that it is connected to ameans for wireless data transmission.

A refinement of the storage medium is characterized in that the meansfor wireless data transmission is a transponder.

An embodiment of the storage medium provides that it contains anauthorization device, said authorization device being configured in sucha way that only an authorized data transmission device can transmitinformation to the data memory.

Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides that the storagemedium contains a SIM card.

An exemplary embodiment of the subject innovation comprises a loadingstation with means for controlling loading and/or unloading processes aswell as for controlling the exchange of at least a first storage mediumfor a second storage medium. According to an exemplary embodiment, it isprovided that the loading station has a means for associating the firststorage medium with a vehicle and/or with the owner of the vehicle.

A refinement of the subject innovation is characterized in that themeans for associating the first storage medium has a means foridentifying the vehicle and/or the owner of the vehicle.

A refinement of the subject innovation provides that the means foridentifying the vehicle and/or the owner of the vehicle has a unit fordetecting a license plate of the vehicle.

Another embodiment of the loading station according to the subjectinnovation is characterized in that it has a card reader, especially fora chip card.

A refinement of the loading station according to the subject innovationprovides that it has a device for detecting a transponder.

Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides that it has ameans for removing the first storage medium from the vehicle.

A refinement of the subject innovation provides that the loading stationhas a means for loading the vehicle with the additional storage means.

Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides that the loadingstation has a means for checking the charge status of the first storagemedium.

A refinement of the subject innovation provides that the loading stationhas a data memory for storing information about the charge status ofstorage media.

The subject innovation also proposes a method for operating a vehiclewith several storage media.

This method is characterized in that loading and/or unloading at leastone of the storage media is carried out in such a way that the chargestatus of this storage medium is below a predefinable lower targetvalue.

The term “storage medium” is to be understood in the broad sense of theword. In particular, it encompasses a source of electrical energy, forexample, a battery. However, it is also possible that these can be othersources of energy such as, for example, fuel for vehicles.

The term “unloading” is also to be understood in a broad sense. Itencompasses the unloading of a battery that serves as a storage mediumas well as the removal of a source of energy from a reservoir, forexample, from a tank.

One embodiment of the subject innovation is characterized in that thelower target value is selected in such a way that the storage medium ischarged in a charging device situated outside of the vehicle.

Another embodiment of the subject innovation is characterized in thatloading and/or unloading at least one additional storage medium iscarried out in such a way that the additional storage medium has thehighest possible charge status.

Another embodiment of the subject innovation provides for carrying outthe method in such a way that it comprises the following steps:

-   -   entering delivery addresses of loaded goods;    -   calculating the travel route;    -   acquiring additional information pertaining to the specifics of        the calculated travel route;    -   calculating power requirements of the hybrid drive;    -   determining a utilization plan for the hybrid drive along the        calculated travel route in order to reduce the energy        consumption and/or the emissions of the logistics vehicle.

In one embodiment of the method according to the subject innovation, thedelivery addresses are read in automatically. In a refinement of thesubject innovation, this can be done contact-free. In this manner, thedelivery is handled especially efficiently.

Advantageously, the circumstances of the travel route are taken intoaccount for the determination of the utilization plan of the hybriddrive. This includes, for example, making a distinction as to whetherthe vehicle is traveling in a residential area or on a country road.Experience has shown that a great deal of electric energy is used withina residential area.

Preferably, the charge status of the battery is controlled as a functionof the anticipated stops of the logistics vehicle.

In an advantageous embodiment of the subject innovation, the travelroute is recalculated after each stop of the logistics vehicle. This isdynamic route planning, which constantly incorporates the currentcircumstances into the new calculation. In this manner, it is ensuredthat information about the traffic situation that arrives after thecalculation of the first travel route is taken into account for thefurther route planning This measure also saves time, lowers the energyconsumption of the logistics vehicle and reduces its emissions.

Advantageously, in a refinement of the subject innovation, a message issent to a recipient after each change to the travel route. The recipientcan be the recipient of a shipment and/or a dispatch center of thelogistics service provider. In a variant of this embodiment of thesubject innovation, however, a message is only sent to a recipient ifthe change in the travel route results in a change in the originaltravel time.

Another objective of the subject innovation is to propose a logisticsvehicle that is equipped in such a way that it allows the execution ofthe method according to the subject innovation.

According to the subject innovation, a vehicle, especially a logisticsvehicle, is proposed that has a hybrid drive and a detection device. Thedetection device is configured in such a way that it autonomouslyacquires delivery addresses for loaded goods. Moreover, a telematicssystem is provided that is connected to the hybrid drive, to thedetection device, and to navigation satellites in order to exchangeinformation.

In one embodiment of the subject innovation, the telematics system isconfigured in such a way that it reads out the delivery addresses fromthe detection device and calculates a travel route.

The detection device can advantageously have RFID reading devices.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A storage medium for use as a source of energy forvehicles, the storage medium comprising: a data memory that storesinformation about the charge status of the storage medium; and a SIMcard.
 10. The storage medium recited in claim 9, the data memory storinginformation about at least one location.
 11. The storage medium recitedin claim 9, the storage medium being connected to a wireless datatransmission device.
 12. The storage medium recited in claim 11, whereinthe wireless data transmission device comprises a transponder.
 13. Thestorage medium recited in claim 9, comprising an authorization deviceconfigured so that only an authorized data transmission device cantransmit information to the data memory.
 14. A loading station,comprising: means for controlling a loading and/or unloading processes;means for identifying a storage medium for use as a source of energy forvehicles, the storage medium comprising a data memory that storesinformation about the charge status of the storage medium, and a SIMcard.
 15. The loading station recited in claim 14, comprising a devicethat reads out the data memory of the storage medium.
 16. The loadingstation recited in claim 15, comprising a data memory for storinginformation about the charge status of the storage media.
 17. A methodof using a storage medium that stores energy for vehicles, the methodcomprising: providing a storage medium that includes a data memory thatstores information about the charge status of the storage medium; andproviding a SIM card for the storage medium.